Surgical stapling apparatus

Abstract

A loading unit for use with a surgical stapling apparatus is provided and includes a tool assembly having a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly that are movable in relation to one another; a surgical buttress releasably secured to a tissue contacting surface of the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly, wherein each surgical buttress is secured to the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly by at least one anchor; a release assembly associated with the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly; and a drive assembly slidably translatable through the tool assembly between proximal and distal positions, wherein the drive assembly actuates the release assembly to thereby release the anchor to free the surgical buttress from the anvil assembly and/or the cartridge assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of releasing a surgical buttress from a surgical instrument, comprising the steps of:
 providing a tool assembly defining a longitudinal axis and including a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly; 
 providing at least one surgical buttress releasably secured by at least one connecting member to a tissue contacting surface of at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly; 
 providing a release assembly operably associated with the at least one connecting member; 
 providing a drive assembly translatable through the tool assembly; and 
 translating the drive assembly through the tool assembly such that the drive assembly actuates the release assembly to act on the at least one connecting member and thereby release the at least one surgical buttress. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of securing the at least one surgical buttress to a tissue contacting surface of at least one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly with the at least one connecting member. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of translating the drive assembly through the tool assembly includes translating the drive assembly distally along the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing at least one surgical buttress includes providing the at least one surgical buttress being secured by the at least one connecting member extending transversely across the respective tissue contacting surface. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing at least one surgical buttress includes providing the at least one surgical buttress being secured to the respective tissue contacting surface by at least one secondary connecting member. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the step of providing at least one surgical buttress includes the at least one secondary connecting member being longitudinally spaced apart from the at least one connecting member. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of translating the drive assembly through the tool assembly includes the drive assembly contacting the release mechanism. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of translating the drive assembly through the tool assembly includes actuating the release mechanism such that a portion of the at least one connecting member is urged away from the tool assembly. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a tool assembly includes providing one of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly with an aperture to receive the at least one connecting member. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the step of providing a release assembly includes the release assembly exerting a force on the at least one connecting member in a transversely outward direction. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein the step of providing a release assembly includes the release assembly overcoming a retention force exerted on the at least one connecting member by the respective one of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of releasing the at least one surgical buttress from the respective one of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly. 
     
     
       13. A method of releasing a surgical buttress from a surgical instrument, comprising the steps of:
 providing a tool assembly defining a longitudinal axis and including a cartridge assembly and an anvil assembly; 
 providing a transverse slot in one of the cartridge assembly and the anvil assembly; 
 providing a connecting member at least partially disposed through the respective transverse slot; and 
 translating a drive assembly through the tool assembly such that the connecting member is caused to disengage from the transverse slot. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , further comprising providing a release assembly operably engaged with the drive assembly and the connecting member. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14 , wherein the step of providing a release assembly includes providing the release assembly configured to urge the connecting member away from the transverse slot. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising providing a surgical buttress releasably secured to a tissue contacting surface of one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly by the connecting member. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of providing a surgical buttress includes the surgical buttress being secured by the connecting member extending along a direction transverse to a direction along which the drive assembly is configured to translate. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 17 , further comprising the step of releasing the surgical buttress from the respective one of the anvil assembly and the cartridge assembly upon the drive assembly actuating the release assembly.